ABRAHAM MILLER & MARY CLICK
This page is dedicated to JEAN ALEXANDER, 2nd great granddaughter of Abraham and Mary through their son Stephen C. Miller. Jean has supplied me with some extremely important information regarding their family.
Researched and compiled by Carolyn Whitaker
The first knowledge we have of Abraham and Mary are the deeds signed in 1818 Washington Co. Tennessee as heirs of Lewis Click. Abraham was the only signer of these deeds.
Information regarding this family was very scarce in Tennessee and the reason earlier researchers knew virtually nothing about them, but after researching I found out why. I believe that Abraham and Mary lived around the Miller family mostly in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Platte Co. Missouri. According to the deeds in 1818 they were then residing in Greene Co. Tennessee.
Their children are listed as being born in Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In 1830 Cocke County, Tennessee we find Abraham living around the Click family and by 1839 they are in Platte Co. Missouri. There was a major migration of Cocke Countians to Platte Co. Missouri during the mid 1830's. Among the families that went there were the Gann's, Potter's, and Faubion's (another branch of my family on my Dad's side). Abraham and Mary were living around all of these families prior to the move. It appears to me they weren't in Tennessee very much of those years, but up in Kentucky someplace for a few years. It seems they may have gone back and forth between Virgina, Kentucky, and Tennessee prior to their move to Missouri.
The obituary of James Harvey Miller b 1813, whom we believe to be a son even though he is not mentioned in Abraham's will, states the exact travels from Kentucky/Virginia to Washington Co. Tennessee, then to Cocke, and later to Missouri. These movements menioned in the obit are the exact timeframe we can document what little information we do have for them, i.e. the deeds, and 1830 Cocke Co Tenn census.
Mae Twitchell writes in her notebook:
Her name is not yet known to us; she was married to Abraham Miller who signed the two 16 Feb 1818 deeds in Washington County as "heir" of Lewis Click. In the 1830 Census of Greene County, Tenn one Mrs. Abraham Miller was shown as age 30-40 years (b. 1790-1800) and having 7 children ranging in age from under 5 years to age 10 - 15. (NOTE: This Abraham Miller has been accounted for and also was from Washington Co. Tennessee, and NOT one in the same.)
As mentioned before, we find Abraham Miller on the 1830 Cocke Co. census. He next appears on the 1839 Tax List for Platte County, Missouri and then the 1840 census. It is now believed that the land that he owned now sits under the Kansas City Airport. The following entry will show this to be true.
Ref: 1840 Census Platte Co. Missouri, Pg 108
Miller, Abraham 00002001-00011001
lived next door to Leander Hughes http://www.yourlaunchpad.com/terry/platte/hughesfamilycemetery.htm Located inside the Mid-Continent International Airport. Hughes, Leander, b: 9/4/1794, d: 2/23/1860
We also have the following court case recorded in Platte Co. where Abraham was sued.
Court Case - Platte Co. Missouri - JAMES H. JOHNSTON VS. ABRAHAM MILLER
Note $56.87 Platte City, Mo February 27th, 1843 Three months after date we promise to pay to JAMES H. JOHNSTON or order, the sum of Fifty six dollars and 87 cents, with interest thereon at the rate of ten per centum per annum from date until paid, for value received. Negotiable and payable without defalcation or discount.
Signed JOHN MC CORD ABRAHAM MILLER
Debt $56.87; Interest 3.90; Justices fee .56; Const fee .25; Iss warrant .25; $61.83; Notice .25 interest commission
The State of Missouri
To the Constable of Carrol Township, in Platte County--GREETING. We command you to summons JOHN MC CORD and ABRAHAM MILLER to appear before the undersigned, one of the Justices of the Peace of Carrol township in Platte county, on the 2nd day of August, 1843 at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at my office in the same Township, to answer the complaint of JAMES H. JOHNSTON. Given under my hand, this 28th day of June 1843 JAMES S. THOMAS, Justice of the Peace
I executed the within Summons on the within named ABRAHAM MILLER by reading the same to him in Carroll Township in Platte County, H BROWN - - - - By Wm. R. Spratt, D.M.? July 11th 1843
The State of Missouri, To the constable of Carrol township in Platte County GREETING. Whereas JAMES H. JOHNSTON on the 2 day of November 1843 obtained judgment before the undersigned Justice of the Peace of Carrol township in Platte county against ABRAHAM MILLER for $60.77/100 dollars for his debt and damages and also for 81 cents for costs. You are therefore commanded to buy the same of the goods and chattles of the said ABRAHAM MILLER according to the law. You are further commanded to return this writ to the undersigned Justice within 60 days from the date given under my hand this 3 day of Nov 1843. Jas S Thomas, J.P.
Come to hand Novm 8th 1843 Hamilton Brown Const C.P countermanded by the Justice from whom this met no ishused Novm 9th AD 1843 H. Brown Const
We the undersigned ABRAHAM MILLER and MATTHEW M. HUGHES acknowledge ourselves indebted to JAMES H. JOHNSTON in the sum of one hundred dollars to be void upon this condition whereas ABRAHAM MILLER has appealed for the judgment of JAMES H. JOHNSTON plaintiff and ABRAHAM MILLER defendant. Now if on such appeal the judgment of the justice be affirmed or if on the trial ---- in the circuit court Judgment be given against the appellant and he shall satisfy such judgment as if his appeal shall be dismifsed and he shall pay the judgment of the Justice together with the costs of the appeal to recognizance shall be void No 9 1845
ABRAHAM MILLER (signed)
MATTHEW M. HUGHES (signed)
Atteste S. D. Thomas
Jas H. Johnston vs. A. Miller - Dismissed Filed April 1st 1844
James H. Johnston vs appeal Abraham Miller In the Platte Circuit Court April Term 1844
We hereby agree that this case be dismissed at the defendants costs. April st 1844 JAMES H. JOHNSTON (signed)
COSTS TAXED Jas H. Johnston vs. A. Miller - Transcript Filed the 20th of February 1844 JEFSE MORRICE Clk Action of debt in note for $56.87 dated 27th Feb 1843 due with interest 10 per cent - - - - June 28th 1843 summons issued returnable 2 August 1843. Aug 2 summons returned executed on ABRAHAM MILLER and on motion of defendant this cause is continued until the 2 day of Nov next. Now at this day Nov 2, 1843 the defendant MILLER was called and came not but made default. It is therefore considered by me that said plaintiff recover against said defendant ABRAHAM MILLER the sum of $56.87 dollars for his debt and $3.90/00 dollars for his damages and costs of suit. Nov 3 1843 ex for 60 days Nov 9th Defendant applied for an appeal which was granted being Nov 10. Execution returned by my order. Debt $56.87; interest $3.90; Justices fee .56; Const .25; Execution .25; Notice of Ex .25; Transcript 3.71; $62.45 Jas S. Thomas, J.P. State of Mifsouri, County of Platte I, James S. Thomas, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county aforesaid do hereby certifiy that the foregoing is a full true and perfect transcript of the judgment by me issued in the above cause. Given under my hand this 15th day of July 1844 (signed) Jas S. Thomas J.P.
On 4/1/1846 Plattsburg Missouri document no 1688 Abraham purchases 160 acres of land. This land is on the boundary in 1877 of Pettis twp according to the platt map, where they are counted in the 1850 census.
With the help of a volunteer researcher, Lee Wilhite, in Platte Co we are able to determine that Abraham Miller lived 2.5 miles straight west of Bentley Potter, whose farm was just west of Wilson's and adjacent to it. The Potters were in the next township east of Abraham Miller. The farms are all located straight east of Leavenworth, Kansas, and were probably on the first road in the county, the military road from Liberty, MO (in Clay County) to Fort Leavenworth. In those days when the entire county population was only a few hundred, that's practically next door. Bentley and Wilson Potter are brothers of Annie Potter who married abt 1831 James Harvey Miller in Cocke County, Tennessee. They are children of James Potter, Revolutionary War soldier and neighbor of Abraham Miller in Cocke County. We have documented proof in James Potter's pension file that they made the move about 1838. The Plat Map for Platte County, MO indicates Abraham's land in Carroll twp and Potters in May Twp. The census records indicate him to be in Pettis Twp. The twp lines may have changed somewhat during the course of years of settlement and may not coincide with the enumeration districts of the census records.
In 1850 only two of their children were still at home, Stephen and Nancy. But the other children were living nearby.
1850 Census Pettis Twp, Platte Co. Missouri, 20 Nov., Pg 452, Household #437
MILLER, Abraham age 69 farmer Real estate $1000 Born Virginia
Mary age 66 Born Virginia
Stephen age 40 farmer $800 real estate born Kentucky
Nancy age 30 Born Kentucky
Abraham and Mary were most likely married in Virginia someplace. No marriage records have been found. We have documented proof that they had 8 children, and strong circumstantial for one more, James Harvey Miller born 16 July 1813 in Powell's Valley. With the help of descendant LEWIS M. RUDDICK of California, he was able to determine that Powell's Valley is directly north from Greene Co. following Powell's River and Mountain (Cumberland Gap) and eventually connecting with the Tennessee River. Further documentation of this location is on the Claiborne County, Tennessee website. It gives the following description:
Claiborne County lies in the northern portion of East Tennessee, and borders both the States of Kentucky and Virginia; the famous Cumberland Gap being situated near the middle of its northern line. The principal stream in the county is Powell River. The Clinch River forms a portion of its southern boundary.
The first settlements in Claiborne County were made in Powell's Valley and along Clinch River. In 1783 Henderson & Co. mentioned in the sketch of Hawkins County and in other chapters of this work, received a grant from North Carolina of 200,000 acres of land to be laid off in one survey, and in accordance with the following restrictions: Beginning at the Old Indian Town, in Powell's Valley, running down Powell River not less than four miles on one or both sides thereof, to the junction of Powell and Clinch Rivers; then down Clinch River on one or both sides, not less than twelve miles in width, for the complement of 200,000 acres. The survey, as made, was approximately as follows: Beginning at what is now known as Old Town, running along the base of the mountain to a point near Caryville, Campbell County; thence in a southerly course to a point on the opposite side of the Clinch River; thence in a line parallel with the first to a point south of Powell River opposite the beginning; thence in a direct course to the beginning.
This would account for the various states that the children list as being born. This is where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee all meet.
Abraham and Mary's children were:
1) STEPHEN C. MILLER(does this stand for CLICK?) born 8 April 1810 (over and over his descendants list him as born Virginia) died 4 Aug 1870 Bethany, Harrison Co. Missouri married RUTH FRANCIS HAMMONS on 28 Sept 1862 Harrison Co. Missouri. They had 4 children
2) JAMES HARVEY MILLER born 16 July 1813 Powell's Valley died 20 May 1880 Ukiah, Mendocino Co. California. Married 1st) ANNIE POTTER abt 1831 Cocke Co Tenn 2nd) ROSANNA GANN 2 Sept 1845 Buchanan Co. Missouri. No children with Annie Potter that we know of. 5 children with Rosanna
3) ELLIOTT FRANKLIN MILLER born abt 1817 Kentucky died aft 1891 Weakley Co. Tennessee married abt 1833 ELVIRA D. ORENTHA GREEN. They had 10 children
4) NANCY ANN MILLER born abt 1818 Tennessee died 25 Feb 1863 Platte Co. Missouri. Never married
5) SARAH MILLER born abt 1822 Kentucky died in child birth 11 Nov 1860 Platte Co. Missouri. Married 1st) JOHN McCORD abt 1840 4 children 2nd) JOHN G. RAPP Nov 25 1852 Platte Co. Missouri. 3 children, 2 survived.
6) MALINDA V. MILLER b abt 1824 Kentucky died 4 May 1854 Platte Co. Missouri. Never married.
7) JOHN Q. MILLER no info found as yet
8) DAVID MILLER died in Clay Co Missouri dates unknown. Not known if had a family.
9) ELIZA MILLER died in Clay Co. Missouri dates unknown. Not know if had a family.
MORE TO COME
Copyright May 15 2004
All rights reserved
Carolyn Whitaker, Webmaster